Vol. 483 No. 6
85 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will restore pension parity to certain retired members of An Garda Síochána whose pensions calculation omits certain allowances which are taken into account in calculating the pensions of gardaí who currently retire in view of his reaffirmation of parity between public service pensions and current rates of public service pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19645/97]
The Government recently decided that public servants who retired before the commencement dates of restructuring pay deals under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress (PESP) and the Programme for Competitiveness and Work (PCW) should benefit from these pay deals on a parity basis subject to a minimum of 3 per cent in their pension, or 2 per cent in the case of those pensioners who had already received an advance payment of 1 per cent.
In the case of the garda sergeant and inspector ranks in the Garda Síochána, an agreement was reached in March 1994 under the restructuring clause of the PESP which provided, inter alia, for the pensionability of unsocial hours allowances for the garda, sergeant and inspector ranks and for an increase in the designated post allowance. The agreement did not provide for the benefit of the pensionability of unsocial hours allowances or of the increase in the designated post allowance being extended to Garda pensioners who retired before 1 January 1993.
Because of these provisions of the agreement, which did not provide for a special pay increase, pensioners who retired prior to 1 January, 1993 are not entitled in the normal way to any increase on a purely parity basis. Their pensions are therefore subject to the minimum adjustment of 3 per cent which is calculated as if the pay scales in question had attracted a special pay increase of 3 per cent with effect from 1 September 1995. The implementation of these increases for Garda pensioners who retired before 1 January 1993 is currently in train.
In relation to superintendents and chief superintendents, restructuring deals under the PCW are being finalised at present. Pensioners from those ranks who retired before the commencement dates of the deals will also benefit on a parity basis subject to a minimum increase in their pensions of 3 per cent or 2 per cent as appropriate.
The Government decision in relation to parity arising out of the restructuring deals under the PESP and PCW pay agreements does not have any bearing on the pensionability of certain Garda allowances in 1982 which arose out of a finding by the arbitrator that a number of Garda allowances, which had previously been non pensionable, should become reckonable for pension purposes with effect from 1 October, 1982. This recommendation was accepted by the Minister for the Public Service and by the Minister for Justice. Garda pensioners who retired before that date did not benefit from the changes recommended by the arbitrator.
